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Leaching of Trace Elements from Biological Tissue by Formalin Fixation

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Abstract

In studies of trace elements in biological tissue, it is imperative that sample handling does not substantially change element concentrations. In many cases, fresh tissue is not available for study, but formalin-fixed tissue is. Formalin fixation has the potential to leach elements from the tissue, but few studies have been published in this area. The concentrations of 19 elements were determined by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in formalin in which human and rat brain samples had been stored for different time durations ranging from weeks up to several years. Additional analysis was carried out in fixed brain samples. There was substantial leaching of elements from the tissue into the formalin, and the leaching varied considerably between different elements. For example, formalin concentrations of As, Cd, Mg, Rb, and Sb increased more than 100-fold upon long-term (years) storage, while for Ni and Cr, the leaching was negligible. The degree of leaching was strongly time-dependent. In conclusion, formalin fixation and storage of biological tissue has the potential to leach substantial fractions of several trace elements from the tissue. The potential of leaching must be critically considered when using formalin-fixed biological tissue in trace metal analysis.

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Acknowledgment

Michael Aschner was supported in part by PHS NIEHS 10563.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Kristin Gellein & Trond Peder Flaten

  2. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Keith M. Erikson

  3. Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Michael Aschner

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Tore Syversen

Authors
  1. Kristin Gellein
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  2. Trond Peder Flaten
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  3. Keith M. Erikson
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  4. Michael Aschner
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  5. Tore Syversen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trond Peder Flaten.

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Gellein, K., Flaten, T.P., Erikson, K.M. et al. Leaching of Trace Elements from Biological Tissue by Formalin Fixation. Biol Trace Elem Res 121, 221–225 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8051-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8051-1

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